songwriter. broadcaster. lecturer

This piece originally appeared on my BBC Blog to accompany our Bert Jansch feature, which was being repeated in tribute to the late songwriter and guitarist. I recently blogged about the phenomenon of 1970s TV-advertised compilation albums, a disgraceful episode

This piece originally appeared on my BBC Blog to accompany our Bert Jansch feature, which was being repeated in tribute to the late songwriter and guitarist. I recently blogged about the phenomenon of 1970s TV-advertised compilation albums, a disgraceful episode

This piece originally appeared my BBC Blog on 27.09.11 One day they’ll give me the chance to make a radio series about members of the community of musicians and artists who are, for many, a touch off-piste but who nevertheless

This piece originally appeared my BBC Blog on 27.09.11 One day they’ll give me the chance to make a radio series about members of the community of musicians and artists who are, for many, a touch off-piste but who nevertheless

There are some records that stop you in your tracks and make such an impression that you can recall the moment, the weather and the people sitting at the next table the first time you hear them. And then there

There are some records that stop you in your tracks and make such an impression that you can recall the moment, the weather and the people sitting at the next table the first time you hear them. And then there

I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about and talking about Scottish music, particularly over the last 10 years. And while doing it I’ve managed to get 30 documentaries made, all on the topic of Classic Scottish Albums and all

I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about and talking about Scottish music, particularly over the last 10 years. And while doing it I’ve managed to get 30 documentaries made, all on the topic of Classic Scottish Albums and all

Sugar Mountain Babies first appeared on The Strange Underworld of the Tall Poppies in 1997. This was the first time that a live string quartet appeared on a Pearlfishers recording thereby setting the tone for everything that followed. When we

Sugar Mountain Babies first appeared on The Strange Underworld of the Tall Poppies in 1997. This was the first time that a live string quartet appeared on a Pearlfishers recording thereby setting the tone for everything that followed. When we

I wrote this song with Amy Allison back in the days when collaborating on songs over email seemed like a vaguely innovative act. This and other songs we made ended up on an album called Turn Like The World Does in 2012, still

I wrote this song with Amy Allison back in the days when collaborating on songs over email seemed like a vaguely innovative act. This and other songs we made ended up on an album called Turn Like The World Does in 2012, still